Nisqually River Councilhttp://nisquallyriver.org
Working to protect and promote the Nisqually Watershed for current and future generationsMon, 19 Nov 2018 18:18:45 +0000en-UShourly1http://nisquallyriver.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/cropped-NRC-Logo-1-32x32.jpgNisqually River Councilhttp://nisquallyriver.org
3232Chrissy Joins the Nisqually Familyhttp://nisquallyriver.org/blog/2018/11/14/chrissy-joins-the-nisqually-family/
http://nisquallyriver.org/blog/2018/11/14/chrissy-joins-the-nisqually-family/#respondThu, 15 Nov 2018 02:38:30 +0000http://nisquallyriver.org/?p=3009Hello! My name is Chrissy Webb, and I am so excited to be part of the Nisqually River Education Project. As a new resident of the Nisqually watershed, I’m eager to not only get to know and explore this unique system, but to study it, protect it, celebrate it, and help others do the same.

Growing up in Montana, my love and fascination for the natural world began at a young age, and this has led me around Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, and Alaska for school and work. I graduated from the University of Montana in 2017 with a degree in Environmental Studies and a minor in Wilderness Studies. My most recent professional experiences have focused on sockeye salmon research in Bristol Bay, Alaska, and other fisheries research projects. I am eager to share my research experiences as a teaching tool in the watershed community.

I consider myself a product of meaningful environmental education, so know that effective education and community engagement programs play major roles in the development of sustainable land-human interactions, and thus the conservation of our natural world. I am excited to be involved with an organization that emphasizes these values of stewardship in such a unique natural setting.

In my free time I enjoy hiking with my four-legged best friend Coca, practicing yoga, reading good books, listening to good music, and fishing.

]]>http://nisquallyriver.org/blog/2018/11/14/chrissy-joins-the-nisqually-family/feed/0Summer Institute for Teachers 2018http://nisquallyriver.org/blog/2018/09/23/summer-institute-for-teachers-2018/
Sun, 23 Sep 2018 22:52:08 +0000http://nisquallyriver.org/?p=2890Read all about the Summer Institute for Teachers 2018 by our summer intern from Evergreen State College Amber Left-Hand-Bull.

On June 25-27, 2018, the Nisqually River Education Project and its partners South Sound GREEN and Chehalis Basin Education Consortium presented the Summer Institute for Teachers 2018: Climate Change in the Pacific NW: Urban Environments, Flooding and Sea Level Rise at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. Over the course of 3 days, over 40 teachers participated in learning regional climate change science from a variety of educators who specialize and work in this field. The Institute is to help educators gain more knowledge on climate change science to provide new and updated studies for students. The teachers experienced hands on activities and field investigations while receiving curriculum resources to help support their service learning projects. They gained skills and experiences that will help implement climate change curriculum and action projects for community resiliency in their classrooms.

Day 1: Sea Level Rise and Flooding

June 25th was the first day of the Institute that focused on sea level rise (SLR) and flooding with various workshops and guest speakers. Starting with Davy Clark, the Environmental Education Coordinator at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, teachers learned about the history of the Nisqually Estuary and the beginning of the Refuge it became in 1974. This was a good foundation in where teachers were, and what this delta meant for many people and programs. His presentation included the environmental impact and change ,from the farm development to the restoration. Davy also included the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s cultural impact around this federal lands, which was later dedicated to the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s respected and honored elder leader Billy Frank Jr., known for his efforts in fighting for the Tribes’ fishing rights.

Boardwalk at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

The day continued with more experts on sea level rise and how that affects Washington, now and in the future. Nicole Faghin, a Coastal Management Specialist with Washington Sea Grant, went over of the science of sea level rise, from the planet heating up with climate change with greenhouse gases and solar radiation to melting glaciers and how scientists make these projections. The breakdown in what these all mean and how to understand it was a great base for the teachers to frame work studies for their students.

Many of the presenters that followed Nicole had preventive and solution initiatives to accommodate these challenges and changes with the kind of conditions. Presenters included followed:

The last hour of the day took part in breakout sessions in four rotations of 25 minutes each where teachers participated in games and labs of the things that were discussed over the day. This was to review and put in focus how students can expand the logic and understanding of what sea level rise and climate change is.

June 26th, the second day of the Institute, was a field trip day of the Deschutes Watershed starting from the headwaters to the mouth (beginning and end). Guest speaker Wendy Gerstel, of QWG Applied Geology, gave a basic geological review of the Puget Sound and Deschutes Watershed. The rest of the day consisted of the watershed tour of the Deschutes with various activities to enlighten how teachers can include these sciences into their curriculum.

The ride to the first stop was a little over a hour in which the teachers were given a handout called Project WET outlining and defining a watershed. The destination at the Deschutes Falls was conducted in field investigations of water quality testing and stream surveys. The faculty will have water quality testing opportunities for their class and this is a component of what they will be performing.

Water quality testing at the headwaters of the Deschutes River

With some minor traffic and construction the next destination was a quick review in stormwater projects. The Yelm Highway Stormwater Facility at William A. Bush Park in Lacey showed the kind of stormwater engineering that is better for our streams and rivers. Stephanie Bishop, South Sound G.R.E.E.N. Coordinator in Thurston Conservation District, gave a Wetland Metaphors project that can show students how to think differently when dealing with new ideas and taking new angles on projects like stormwater engineering.

Next stop was at the Tumwater Falls Park, where guest presenter Sue Patnude, Executive Director of the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team (DERT), gave the class a tribal background in what this watershed means to the Squaxin Island Tribe and how they are working to help restore the Deschutes Estuary.

The class then met at the mouth of the Deschutes Watershed in downtown Olympia at the Capital Lake. The teachers listened to Eric Christensen & Susan Clark with City of Olympia on the downtown portion of sea level rise and how future planning is already in the works. The city has taken SLR into consideration and how buildings are already being affected by these conditions. Some of the planning and ideas consisted of removing buildings and structures in high risk areas to raising buildings above the current sea level.

The last stop of the tour ended with an optional kayak tour from Swantown Marina to Priest Point Park with Sam Kaviar, Kayak Nisqually and Mike Baker, Olympia Parks and Rec. The kayak tour was a perfect ending to the day with calm waters and clear skies. It gave the importance of what had been covered so far with environmental impacts and efforts of change.

Kayaking tour starting at Swantown Marina Downtown Olympia.

Day 3: Curriculum Resources, Action Projects, and Planning Time

June 27th, the last day, included a few more presentations and project resources on how to use the all the different objectives covered. One goal of the Institute is to show how the science involved can include students with all ranges of talents and interest areas. Starting with Stephanie Bishop, Matt Samson, and Aerial Wahoub in “Tideline Project: Art as Action”, teachers looked at an art project done by volunteers at the Procession of the Species where they demonstrated the impacts of sea level rise in Olympia last April, 2018. (Read more here: https://www.theolympian.com/entertainment/article208628649.html).

After that was “Data in the Classroom” with Maggie Allen, an Education Specialist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This compiled computer science with storyboards and actual online testing/review with what the students have learned. This program can be grade manipulated and is kid friendly.

In a litter assessment project, the teachers learned about waste impacts worldwide and state based, with presenters Heather Trim, Zero Waste Washington and Christine Rayburn, Stop Sucking! The Strawless Olympia Campaign. The presentations emphasized current waste issues and statistics that contribute to harm our water today. Ending on a positive note the teachers learned of various solutions and strategic practices that can help eliminate these issues.

The last but not least presenter, Elizabeth Campbell with the Squaxin Garden in Tribal Curriculum Resources went over the tribes “Traditional Food Box”. The box held wild food and medicine native to Washington that has been practice with the tribe thousands of years. To see more of this follow this link from Elise Crohn’s website: www.wildfoodsandmedicines.com

For more Native American knowledge and the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s effort and history of protecting the waters of Nisqually Watershed, the following links were shown and made available for the teachers and their classrooms:

Last year’s Summer Institute for Teachers had returned faculty who shared some of their projects over the year and how it impacted their students and community with climate resiliency. The last 30 minutes was meeting their watershed program or program assessment to review the requirements and calendar for the 2018-19 school year. At the end of the day all educators and outreach programs left with more knowledge and tools to help serve their communities and classrooms for a better tomorrow.

]]>Nisqually River Education Project Receives NOAA B-WET Granthttp://nisquallyriver.org/blog/2018/08/29/nisqually-river-education-project-receives-noaa-b-wet-grant/
Wed, 29 Aug 2018 17:52:50 +0000http://nisquallyriver.org/?p=2930The Nisqually River Education Project was one of eight projects to receive funding this year from NOAA’s Pacific Northwest Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program. B-WET, established in 2002, seeks to improve the understanding of environmental stewardship of students, teachers and communities across the United States through education. These grants support standards-based, hands-on education activities that promote greater understanding about watersheds, the ocean and protected areas such as national marine sanctuaries.

NREP’s B-WET project, called Climate Literacy Action and Monitoring in South Sound (or CLAMSS for short) will provide training, networking, and classroom and field experiences for over 50 teachers in the Nisqually and South Sound watersheds. The project supports hands-on Water Quality Monitoring lessons for more than 1,250 students, empowering them not only as citizen scientists, but to take action to improve water quality in their communities. In addition, the CLAMSS Fellows program will offer teachers in-depth training on ocean acidification and climate change, with science-based resources and Nearshore field trip opportunities for their classes to study the effect of warmer, acidifying oceans on marine life.

We’re excited to launch CLAMSS with our fabulous network of teachers and partners, including South Sound GREEN, the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, and NOAA. Follow NREP on Facebook to see updates on the project throughout the year!

]]>29th Annual Nisqually Watershed Festival – Sept. 29!http://nisquallyriver.org/blog/2018/08/16/29th-annual-nisqually-watershed-festival-sept-29/
Thu, 16 Aug 2018 19:41:57 +0000http://nisquallyriver.org/?p=2925For 29 years, the annual Nisqually Watershed Festival has celebrated the Nisqually’s history, culture, and natural resources. Join us on Saturday, September 29, at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, for the 29th annual Festival, and be part of our unique legacy of community and conservation!

The festival is a free, daylong event featuring art, discovery, music, and a whole lot of family fun. Check out the “Insect Extravaganza,”where guests can view insects from around the world, as well as their own backyard. You can also listen to stories in the Red Salmon Tent, dress up to take part in a critter parade, join a guided nature walk, and board a shuttle to the Nisqually Reach Nature Center to take a tour of the Nisqually nearshore.

Main stage events include a live raptor show, wildlife presentations, and much, much more, including Nisqually Stream Stewards graduation and award ceremony for the student Poster Contest. (This year’s Best In Show Festival Poster was designed by Sydney Skaulem, a 5th grader at Olympic Elementary School!)

The always-popular salmon barbecue is back, along with a Hawaiian barbecue, a shellfish tasting from Taylor Shellfish, and other delicious food options.

Several non-profits and local agencies will be there to share educational and hands-on activities, crafts, and information. You can explore the local ecosystem in a marine touch tank and learn about salmon habitat by climbing inside a 25-foot long replica salmon. Craft stations offer learning opportunities by making a salmon life cycle key chain or painting a wooden fish to be displayed at next year’s festival. And don’t forget to bring a t-shirt or dishtowel to make your own Nisqually salmon print fashion (or make one on paper to display).

The many communities of the watershed have worked hard for many years to protect and restore this unique place. The Festival is our chance to celebrate these accomplishments and showcase makes the Nisqually special. Come join us!

Free parking and shuttle to the festival will be available at River Ridge High School, 350 River Ridge Drive, Lacey. Map: http://goo.gl/maps/Y2gND

]]>Over 20 years of water quality data in one beautiful map!http://nisquallyriver.org/blog/2018/07/13/over-20-years-of-water-quality-data-in-one-beautiful-map/
Fri, 13 Jul 2018 17:46:39 +0000http://nisquallyriver.org/?p=2916Big news from the NREP. You’ve likely seen many posts over the years about the twice-yearly water quality testing done across the Nisqually Watershed. These testing events bring out hundreds of students from 4th-8th grade out to testing sites to test water samples for things like: Dissolved Oxygen, Temperature, pH, Nitrates, Fecal Coliform, Total Suspended Solids, Turbidity, and Biochemical Oxygen Demand. All of these parameters can help identify good or poor water quality. These students are then invited to represent their classes at the annual Student GREEN Congress, where they share their results and discuss issues of water quality in the watershed.

The NREP has been collecting this water quality data since 1996 across over 60 sites and it has now officially been compiled and organized into graphs for each site. With the help of the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s GIS department, we present to you our water quality data map.

]]>Growing Up GREENhttp://nisquallyriver.org/blog/2018/05/23/growing-up-green/
Wed, 23 May 2018 17:03:02 +0000http://nisquallyriver.org/?p=2880Today’s guest post comes from Katie Allowatt, an AmeriCorps volunteer with our partners at the Chehalis Basin Education Consortium in ESD 113, a master’s student at The Evergreen State College…and a former NREP and Student GREEN Congress participant! We were so excited to learn that Katie had gotten her start in science as a 5th grader in the Nisqually watershed and asked her to tell her story about the impact that early environmental education had on her life and career.

Being with nature has been embedded within my life for as long as I can remember. The outdoors presents opportunity for learning without feeling the pressures of the world around me. Over time, my understanding and respect for nature has matured greatly. Living in the Pacific Northwest my whole life has led to adaptation and appreciation for this unique environment. As a young child, this interest had been nurtured and turned into much more than just listening to the rain splatters against the rooftop or climbing trees in dense forests.

The relationship I have had with my natural surroundings was first acknowledged in an academic setting when I was in 5th grade at McKenna Elementary. An event titled Student GREEN Congress, which consisted of activities that promoted protection and restoration of my local Nisqually watershed, changed my entire perspective of the environment. Held at The Evergreen State College, I was completely intrigued by the works presented at this event. As a child I had been told numerous times what I could do with my life. Many of the options that were given to me were told to others my age and ranged from becoming a doctor to being a ballerina. These options did not hold my attention like nature did and continues to do.

After my time at Student GREEN Congress, I decided and learned that I could be a scientist (who knew!). I enjoyed my time and learned plenty at the event, but knew deep down that this work would need to be continued even after the day ended. I now attend The Evergreen State College in their Masters for Environmental Studies program. The work I do now in my academic and professional life has been founded on Student GREEN Congress work. Some people move on from their 5th grade experiences and become doctors or ballerinas: I chose to continue on the path of watershed protection and environmental love. I thank and always think of the many individuals it has taken to continue this important work for our youth.

]]>Spring River Clean-Uphttp://nisquallyriver.org/blog/2018/05/14/spring-river-clean-up/
Tue, 15 May 2018 00:19:35 +0000http://nisquallyriver.org/?p=2870On April 21, over 70 volunteers in kayaks, rafts, canoes, and rubber boots came out to clean up the lower stretches of the Nisqually River. The weather cooperated with bright spring sun and strong spring flows in the river, making it a great day for people from near and far to come enjoy the Nisqually.

The clean-up was organized and co-sponsored by the Washington Kayak Club, Washington Recreational River Runners, and Paddle Trails Canoe Club, who contributed leadership, technical assistance, transportation, and, most importantly, dozens of boaters full of enthusiasm. More than 40 rafts, catarafts, kayaks, and canoes made the float, which made a colorful sight setting off down the river laden with garbage cans and trash bags. Foundation staff and volunteers from Nisqually Stream Stewards and the community also helped out on land, collecting litter at the water access sites and sorting trash brought in by the boaters. In total, we cleaned up 17 river miles, from McKenna Park in Roy to the 6th Avenue WDFW Water Access Site. We collected over 2080 pounds and 15 yards of trash: notable debris included a large metal tank, a gas lawn mower, and part of a deck!

The Nisqually River Council was thrilled to be part of this event. We greatly appreciate all the tremendous support from the boating clubs, volunteers, and institutions who made it possible, including Thurston County Public Works and LeMay Pacific Disposal, for donating trash collection supplies and hauling and disposing free of charge; Centralia City Light and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, for providing public water access points at McKenna Park, Nisqually Park, and 6th Avenue; and American Whitewater, American Canoe Association, and American Rivers National River Cleanup for technical support and guidance to the local boating clubs. Above all, a huge thanks to organizer Greg Provenzano, who masterminded the event, brought together all the partners, and made sure every detail was taken care of for a fun and successful day. Check out our Facebook page for more photos of all the clean-up action and everyone who came out to help.

Nisqually River Water Trail and Recreational Stewardship

If you’re out on the Nisqually this summer, remember to boat responsibly and practice good stewardship by packing out trash and following Leave No Trace principles. The Nisqually River Water Trail plan, adopted by the NRC earlier this year, has lots of resources for recreating safely on the river. Check back for new information as the plan is implemented!

What better way to start a rainy Saturday than to listen to an engaging keynote speech from a 17-year-old who is suing the government for not taking action on climate change?!

On Saturday, April 14th I spent the day volunteering and tabling as a Nisqually Stream Stewards representative at the 3rd Annual South Sound Climate Action Convention. The day was packed with inspiring speakers, interesting workshops, good food, great networking opportunities and fun tunes sung by the Raging Grannies! I spoke with many potential volunteers passionate about the local ecosystem and learned about many other environmental groups in the Olympia-Lacey area.

After being thoroughly impressed by the keynote speaker Aji Piper (one of 21 youth suing the US in a federal climate change related lawsuit, Juliana v. United States),I chose to attend his Engaging Youth workshop, which explored keys to intergenerational communication, action and impact. The workshop provided a fresh perspective on how to lead with listening and asked participants to share examples of a time they used creativity to elicit change. I was inspired by the stories and by the willingness of older generations to look to youth for leadership and new ideas! For more info on the lawsuit, check out: https://www.ourchildrenstrust.org/us/federal-lawsuit/

Another inspiring experience was attending the Backbone Campaign workshop Solutionary Rail: A Climate Crisis Solution to Electrify America’s Railroads, and Usher in a Clean Energy Future, led by Bill Moyers, which opened my mind to the possibilities of moving freight traffic off of highways and onto specialized electric rail infrastructure, as is done in many other countries across the world. You can watch a video and find a whole book devoted to the concept at: http://www.solutionaryrail.org/

For the last workshop I chose Carrie Ziegler’s Collaborative Art as a Catalyst for (Climate) Action. Carrie explained her methods and some of her past projects and then gave us all an opportunity to create! We designed and cut out stencils that she will use for her current project addressing food waste. This exciting work will be located at the new Lacey Food Bank. To read more about this check out: http://olywip.org/less-waste-food-1000-collaborators-will-art-action-new-lacey-food-bank/

The 3rd Annual South Sound Climate Action Convention was a great day spent volunteering as a Nisqually Stream Steward, meeting and discussing action steps with like-minded folks who want to move the needle on climate change. Keep an eye out for this exciting opportunity next spring and get involved! www.thurstonclimateaction.org

Nisqually Stream Stewards are community members who participate in summer classes and workshops to learn about conservation, native ecosystems, and watershed management in the Nisqually River basin. Stream Stewards volunteer throughout the year with a wide variety of community events and organizations. To learn more or sign up for the 2018 Stream Stewards program, email streamstewards@nisquallyriver.org.

On March 22, 2018, over 500 students from all over the South Puget Sound area descended upon The Evergreen State College for the 26th annual Student GREEN Congress (SGC). The SGC is the culminating experience of the water quality monitoring program coordinated by the Nisqually River Education Project (NREP), where students from all over the watershed share their data and observations from their testing sites spread throughout the Nisqually basin.

Beginning in September, I began entering classrooms to educate students about the importance of water quality and how to test for several factors that affect it. All of these lessons focus heavily on how water quality issues impact local salmon populations, including the threatened chinook and steelhead salmon. The students learn how to perform their own tests to measure levels of dissolved oxygen, water temperature, pH, turbidity, fecal coliform, nitrogen and total suspended solids, all of which can have devastating impacts on salmon populations when not in their target range. On October 19th, 48 classrooms took to the field to perform water quality tests at their sites ranging from Ashford to the mouth of the Nisqually River, testing water from the main stem of the Nisqually as well as the many streams that feed into it. All of the data collected by these classrooms are then sent into the NREP where they are compiled, analyzed and saved in our database for future use.

On February 15th, the same group of classrooms went back to visit their fall testing sites to perform the same set of tests. Each set of tests represents a snapshot of these sites at that very moment and, individually, don’t paint a complete picture of the long-term health of the watershed. By monitoring the water quality in the fall and winter, we allow the students to compare and analyze the data in a bigger scope. These data are collected and sent into the NREP where we handle the data in the same way as the fall. However, now begins the real fun of teaching water quality to students. The fall/winter data is compared in a series of graphs to demonstrate the changes a dynamic system undergoes in a short time and we share that data with the students.

Student GREEN Congress brings together all of the participating schools from the NREP’s program and from similar programs in nearby South Sound watersheds. The teachers involved in our program selected a small group of their students to represent their school at the SGC. The students were split up into 24 different “State of the Rivers” sessions and compared their data, identified “hot spots,” found data worth celebrating, and suggested potential action projects aimed at addressing water quality issues. For most of those participating in SGC, this was a day of firsts: a first time being on a college campus, taking workshops led by industry professionals, and presenting scientific data to a group of strangers. The day ended with students presenting their recommendations for improving water quality and committing to take action in their schools, homes, and communities.

In addition to providing funding support for GREEN Congress and NREP’s water quality monitoring programs, the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s Nisqually Environmental Team (N.E.T.) generously donated a piece of smoked salmon and a Douglas fir seedling to each student delegate at Congress. N.E.T representatives Rene Bracero (Chehalis) and Amber Lefthandbull (Rosebud Sioux) presented the gifts at the closing ceremony, reminding attendees to recognize their role as environmental stewards “in honor of all life and wealth and for a good future”.
To witness first-hand the sheer number of schools and students that this program brings together around a common goal was truly rousing. As a newcomer to the Pacific Northwest and an aspiring educator navigating my way through the environmental field, I am constantly moved by the positive environmental attitudes this region maintains, but the SGC was a truly inspirational experience. As an educator, you always hope that you have a positive influence on your students; watching it happen to over 500 future leaders was very special.

Student GREEN Congress 2018, by the numbers:

]]>We’re Hiring! Full-time Bookkeeper/Accounts Manager Position Open Nowhttp://nisquallyriver.org/blog/2018/01/25/were-hiring/
Thu, 25 Jan 2018 19:29:54 +0000http://nisquallyriver.org/?p=2824The Nisqually River Foundation seeks an energetic, motivated individual to fill a full-time position as a Bookkeeper/Accounts Manager for four associated South Puget Sound nonprofit organizations – the Foundation, the Nisqually Land Trust, the South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group, and the Pacific Shellfish Institute. The ideal candidate will possess experience in essential bookkeeping functions, such as managing accounts payable and receivable and preparing payrolls, invoices, and financial reports, and be familiar with basic accounting principles and audits. This is a great opportunity to work with experienced and well-established organizations. Qualifications include proficiency with Quickbooks or similar accounting software, a bachelor’s degree and three years of experience (or the equivalent), and an ability to work within a team setting. Visit http://nisquallyriver.org/who-we-are/job-opportunities/ for the full job description and instructions on how to apply!
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